NASHVILLE — When the Anaheim Ducks were in a playoff overtime Thursday night, none of Corey Perry's teammates gave any thought to the fact that his scoring numbers declined sharply this season.

All they see is a player with an impressive history of scoring important goals.

That’s who he has been for 11 NHL seasons, and that’s who he was when he scored at 10:25 of overtime to give the Ducks a series-saving 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of the Western Conference final. It's the third time he has won a game for the Ducks in overtime during these playoffs.

"He’s one of those guys who gets the eyes of the defenseman because he’s always around the crease, and he’s always bumping the goalie," Anaheim defenseman Kevin Bieksa said. "His stick drags behind him after the whistle. He does all the little things that make him effective."

His game-winner Thursday was not a work of art. He fired a puck toward the front of the net where it struck Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban’s stick and redirected past goalie Pekka Rinne to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Undoubtedly luck was involved, but it was a goal that Perry was credited with because he was experienced enough to know that the high-percentage play in that situation was to center the puck.

"I was just trying to create traffic or create a balance and create havoc in front," Perry said. "And that's what they say in overtime: You throw it on net, (because you) never know what's going to happen."

That’s not the first goal Perry has scored like that, and it won’t be his last.

"There is a place for a veteran player in every lineup, I guarantee you," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said.

It was Perry’s fourth goal of the playoffs and 11th point. In the regular season, everyone took note that Perry scored only 19 goals after scoring 110 over the three previous seasons. No one seems to notice that nothing has changed with regard to how important he is to the team in the playoffs.

The big change in Perry’s regular-season life was that Carlyle moved him off Ryan Getzlaf’s line. It was a strategy move, not a demotion.

"I don’t think it was hard for him at all," Carlyle said. "It might have been a little bit of a shock to him."

Carlyle was trying to give the Ducks a deeper, more dangerous scoring attack.

"What we said is the major benefit that we believe in is that if we move him to a different line, he’s going to see the opposition’s third-pairing of defense," Carlyle said. "He still gets his power-play minutes. We think that’s an advantage for the team."

Perry said his job never changed, just his linemates did.

"It doesn't matter what line I'm on, I'm going to play the same way," Perry said. "I'm going to throw pucks at the net, I'm going to go to the net and play down low. And it's something that I've always done and I don't change."

What also didn’t change was the Ducks’ reliance on Perry in important games. In Game 4, the Predators erased a 2-0 deficit and tied it on Filip Forsberg’s goal with 36 seconds remaining in regulation.

It was a deflating series of events. That’s when they most needed what Perry has to offer. He’s had so much success in his career in important games that he does not panic.

"He’s a clutch performer," Ducks forward Nate Thompson said. "He’s a guy who has done it year-in, year-out, scores lots of goals, and scores goals different ways. He’s one of our leaders."

Bieksa said he never heard Perry complain about the change of lines or ice time. "He’s a professional," Bieksa said.

Nothing has really changed. The Ducks need Perry as much as they ever have.

"Say what you want about what happened this year, but playoffs are about guys stepping up in different situations and he did that tonight," Bieksa said.

Game 3: Nashville Predators left wing James Neal (18) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period. The Predators won 5-1 to cut their deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to 2-1.
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Game 2: Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Jake Guentzel (59) and Conor Sheary (43) celebrate after Guentzel's goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period. Guentzel would add the game-winner in the third period as Pittsburgh went on to a 4-1 win to take a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
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Game 1: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel (59) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Nashville Predators. The Penguins' 5-3 win gave them a 1-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.
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Game 7: That's the sight of a Penguins team that clinched a Stanley Cup Final berth with a 3-2 double-overtime win in Game 7 against the Senators. And they can thank Chris Kunitz for the goal.
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Game 6: Ottawa Senators defenseman Fredrik Claesson looks on as the puck goes in the net on a shot from forward Mike Hoffman in the third period. Hoffman's goal held up as the winner as Ottawa won 2-1 to tie the Eastern Conference final against the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-3.
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Game 6: Nashville Predators players wave to their fans in celebration after defeating the Anaheim Ducks 6-3 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time.
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Game 5: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin reaches for the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the first period. Malkin had three assists as the Penguins rolled to a 7-0 win to take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference final.
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Game 5: Nashville Predators forward Colin Wilson (33) reacts after scoring a goal on Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonathan Bernier (1) during the second period. Nashville went on to a 3-1 win to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference final.
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Game 4: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby celebrates after scoring against the Ottawa Senators in the second period. Pittsburgh held on for a 3-2 win to even up the Eastern Conference final at 2-2.
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Game 4: Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) can only trudge off the ice in disappointment after the Ducks won 3-2 in overtime to even the Western Conference finals.
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Game 3: Ottawa Senators forward Kyle Turris (7) scores against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) in the second period. Turris' goal capped off the scoring for the Senators in a 5-1 win, which gave them a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference final.
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Game 3: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal on the power play late in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks. Nashville took a 2-1 series lead with the 2-1 victory.
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Game 2: Anaheim Ducks forward Ondrej Kase (86) celebrates with defenseman Josh Manson (42) after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period. Anaheim went on to a 5-3 victory to even the Western Conference final up at 1-1.
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Game 1: Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan (9) scores the game-winning goal in overtime past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. The 2-1 victory in Pittsburgh moved Ottawa to 6-1 in these playoffs in overtime games. and gave it an early 1-0 series lead.
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Game 1: The Nashville Predators rush to James Neal to celebrate his overtime-winning goal. Nashville stole home ice with the 3-2 victory in the Western Conference final opener and moved to 9-2 in the playoffs.
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Game 7: The Anaheim Ducks celebrate after their 2-1 home victory in Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers. The win snapped Anaheim's home losing streak in seventh games, and advanced it to the Western Conference final.
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Game 7: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust (17) celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Washington Capitals. The Penguins went on to a 2-0 win to advance to the Eastern Conference final.
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Game 6: Washington Capitals wing Andre Burakovsky (65) celebrates his third-period goal with center Nicklas Backstrom (19). The strike was Burakovsky's second of the game and gave the Capitals a 5-0 lead in an eventual 5-2 win that tied the series up at 3-3.
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Game 6: Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian (44) celebrates a first-period goal against the Anaheim Ducks. Kassian's goal gave Edmonton a 3-0 lead in an eventual 7-1 romp that forced the first Game 7 of the playoffs.
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Game 5: Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) watches a goal by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) during the third period. Washington scored three times in the frame to take a 4-2 victory, which cut its series deficit to 3-2.
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Game 5: The Anaheim Ducks celebrate after Corey Perry's game-winning goal in double overtime against the Edmonton Oilers. The Ducks stormed back from 3-0 down late to force OT, and with the 4-3 win take a 3-2 series lead.
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Game 5: St. Louis Blues right wing Dmitrij Jaskin (23) celebrates with defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (27) after scoring a goal during the second period against the Nashville Predators. St. Louis won 2-1 to cut its series deficit to 3-2.
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Game 4: Rangers left wing Chris Kreider, left, fights with Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf, right, during the second period in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Game 4: Nick Holden, right, of the Rangers pushes the puck past Senators goalie Craig Anderson during the first period of Game 4 of their second-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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Game 4: The Anaheim Ducks celebrate an overtime-winning goal by forward Jakob Silfverberg (33) against the Edmonton Oilers just 45 seconds into the extra session. The 4-3 Anaheim win tied the series up 2-2.
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Game 4: Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Phil Kessel (81) and Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrate a goal by defenseman Justin Schultz (4) against the Washington Capitals during the second period. Schultz's strike held up as the winner in the 3-2 victory, which gave Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead in the series.
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Game 4: Nashville Predators forward James Neal (18) celebrates with defenseman Ryan Ellis (4) after a goal during the third period against the St. Louis Blues. Neal's goal made it 2-0, and Nashville hung on for a 2-1 win and 3-1 series lead.
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Game 3: New York Rangers forward Tanner Glass (15) celebrates a goal by forward Oscar Lindberg (not pictured) against the Ottawa Senators during the second period. The Rangers won the game at Madison Square Garden 4-1, cutting their series deficit to 2-1.
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Game 3: Anaheim Ducks forward Chris Wagner (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim cut its deficit in the series to 2-1 with a 6-3 road victory.
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Game 3: Nashville Predators forward Harry Zolnierczyk (26) celebrates after assisting on a goal by defenseman Roman Josi (not pictured) during the third period of the Predators' 3-1 win over the Blues. Nashville took a 2-1 lead in the series with the victory.
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Game 2: Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) moves in for the rebound against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Matthew Benning (83) and goalie Cam Talbot (33) during the second period. The Oilers held on to win 2-1 and head back to Edmonton with a 2-0 series lead.
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Game 2: St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal during the third period against the Nashville Predators. Tarasenko scored twice in the Blues' 3-2 win, which tied the series at 1-1.
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Game 1: Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) looks back after being scored on by Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in the second period. Crosby scored twice in the second, and after the Capitals rallied, the Penguins got the tie-breaking goal in the third period from Nick Bonino, which held up for the 3-2 winner. Pittsburgh leads the second-round series 1-0.
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Game 1: Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) peers over New York Rangers forward Rick Nash (61), who is providing a screen, in the third period of the Senators' 2-1 win. A late goal by Senators captain Erik Karlsson broke the tie and helped Ottawa out to a 1-0 series lead.
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Game 1: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a goal by defenseman Adam Larsson (6) against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period. The Oilers beat the Ducks 5-3 to take a 1-0 lead in their second-round series, the first time Anaheim has lost in regulation since March 10.
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Game 1: Nashville Predators forward Vernon Fiddler (83) scores the game-winning goal against St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) during the third period. Nashville won the game 4-3 for a 1-0 lead in the second-round series.
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Game 6: The Washington Capitals players celebrate after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. The win gave Washington a 4-2 series victory, and sets up a second-round matchup with the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Game 6: The Edmonton Oilers bench celebrates after an empty-net goal against the San Jose Sharks in the final moments of the third period of a 3-1 win. The victory gave Edmonton a 4-2 series win.
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Game 6: New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist celebrates an empty-net goal that sealed a victory against the Montreal Canadiens. The 3-1 win handed the Rangers a 4-2 series victory.
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Game 5: St Louis Blues forward Magnus Paajarvi (56) celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime against the Minnesota Wild. Paajarvi's goal gave St. Louis a 4-3 win and 4-1 series win. The Blues will play the Nashville Predators in the second round.
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Game 5: Boston Bruins forward Sean Kuraly (52) celebrates his goal in double overtime against the Ottawa Senators. The 3-2 win staved off elimination for the Bruins as they head back to Boston trailing the Senators 3-2.
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Game 5: Washington Capitals forward Justin Williams (14) celebrates with Marcus Johansson (90) after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The OT score gave the Capitals a 2-1 win, and a 3-2 lead in the series.
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Game 5: The Pittsburgh Penguins' Trevor Daley (left) and Scott Wilson celebrate a goal by Wilson during a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Pens won the series four games to one.
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Game 4: Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson (43) celebrates scoring a goal on an assist from forward Lars Eller (20). The Capitals evened the series at 2-2 with a 5-4 win in Toronto.
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Game 4: San Jose Sharks forward Marcus Sorensen (20) celebrates with defenseman Brenden Dillon (4) after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period. After getting shut out two straight games, the Sharks' offense exploded in a 7-0 win that leveled the series 2-2.
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Game 4: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson (34) slides the puck past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) for a goal during the first period. Columbus won 5-4 to avoid the sweep as the series shifts back to Pittsburgh with the Penguins up 3-1.
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Game 4: New York Rangers forward Rick Nash (61) celebrates scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period. Nash's goal would hold up as the winner as the Rangers evened up the series 2-2 with a 2-1 win.
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Game 3: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri (43) celebrates a goal against the Washington Capitals in the second period. The Maple Leafs would win 4-3 in overtime to take a 2-1 series lead.
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April 16: Penguins center Jake Guentzel (59) and center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrate Guentzel's game winner during overtime in Game 3 of their first-round series at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Pittsburgh won 5-4 in overtime, overcoming a 3-1 first-period deficit, to take a 3-0 lead in the series.
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Game 3: The Blues celebrate a goal by Jaden Schwartz as Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin, right, looks on during the second period in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The Blues won 3-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the series.
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Game 3: Oilers goalie Cam Talbot catches a puck in the air against the Sharks during the third period of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series at SAP Center at San Jose. Edmonton won 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
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Game 3: Canadiens right wing Alexander Radulov celebrates his goal against the Rangers during the third period in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Canadiens won 3-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Anaheim Ducks center Andrew Cogliano (7) moves in for a shot on goal against Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (23) and goalie Brian Elliott (1) during the second period of the Ducks' 3-2 win. Anaheim won its 29th straight home game against Calgary and holds a 2-0 lead in the series.
Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Kasperi Kapanen (28) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime against the Washington Capitals. The goal gave the Maple Leafs a 4-3 win, and tied the series up 1-1 as it heads to Toronto.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

Games 2: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) shoots on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) during the second period of Nashville's 5-0 win. Chicago has yet to score in the series as it heads to Nashville with the Predators up 2-0.
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Game 2: Ottawa Senators forward Clarke MacArthur (16) celebrates his goal, his first since 2015, against the Boston Bruins in the second period. Ottawa would rally from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3 in overtime, leveling the series at 1-1.
Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a short-handed goal in the third period, his first playoff goal, against the San Jose Sharks. Edmonton won 2-0, its first playoff win since 2006, to even its series 1-1.
Perry Nelson, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Montreal Canadiens forward Alexander Radulov (47) reacts with teammates, including goalie Carey Price, after scoring the winning goal during the overtime period. Montreal rallied late to force OT, where it won 4-3 to tie the series up 1-1.
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Game 2: St Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) jumps over Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle (3) in the third period. Allen was strong again as the Blues picked up another 2-1 win to take a 2-0 series lead.
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Game 1: Capitals wing Justin Williams (14) scuffles with Maple Leafs defenseman Connor Carrick (8) during the first period in Washington. Williams scored two goals to help the Capitals rally for a 3-2 overtime win.
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